Local

Most senior executive positions within Samoa’s public service are occupied by women. But high-level positions such as that of a Government Ministry Chief Executive Officer continues to be dominated by men. This was highlighted in the Public Service Commission Annual Report for 2016-2017, which looked at 328 senior executive positions that come under the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Students in Samoa now have the option of studying at an overseas school without leaving our shores – at the Apia International School (A.I.S.). A.I.S., launched yesterday and declared “officially open” by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi is a ‘bring your own device’ online correspondence school, where students enrol in high schools anywhere in the world.

There is no immediate threat of a cyclone but the advisory will remain in place due to Samoa being in the cyclone season. That is the position of the Samoa Meteorology Division assistant chief executive officer, Tainau Mulipola Titimaea, when he was contacted by the Samoa Observer yesterday for an update on the weather.

Educationists in Samoa are gearing up for the new academic year. As part of their preparations, they gathered at the Pesega Hall for a three-day Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (M.E.S.C.) annual conference, starting yesterday. The conference followed a prayer service on Sunday evening during which the Ministry committed its work to God in prayer.

There is a shortage of blood at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital in Moto’otua – and your help is needed. This was confirmed by Isitolo Paulo, a Laboratory Officer at the national hospital, who said all blood types are in demand and anyone – who is in a position to donate – is encouraged to go to the N.H.S. Laboratory Blood Bank at the hospital.

Parliament observed a moment of silence today in honour of Faasaleleaga No. II Member of Parliament, Pa’u Sefo Pa’u. Speaker of Parliament, Tole’afoa Leaupepe Fa’afisi, called for the moment of silence in the opening of Parliament’s first session for 2019 at their makeshift headquarters at Tuanaimato.

The victim in an alleged domestic violence shooting incident last week has been medivacked to New Zealand for further surgery. The woman – who is in her 30s – was flown out of the country last Friday morning, according to a family member who did not want to be named.

An economics professor says ideally, minimum wages should be calculated, according to the gross domestic product (G.D.P.) of a country. The professor, who would rather not be named when discussing the issue, said everyone deserves a share of Samoa’s earnings and this can be done by looking at the country’s G.D.P per capita.

The tussle between the Land Transport Authority and the Samoa Police Service over traffic enforcement powers remains unresolved. The Cabinet is yet to make a decision on the issue after the Commissioner of Police, Fuiavailiili Egon Keil, wrote to the Prime Minister and Police Minister in October last year requesting that the Road Traffic Act 2009 is amended.

The Intersection at Central Cross Island Rd and Vailele St (Malifa/Lelata) will be temporarily closed for three days starting tomorrow. This is to allow the Land Transport Authority to carry out a geotechnical Investigation on Lelata Bridge from 7:00am to 5:00pm.

Samoa Airways chairman Fe’esago Siaosi Fepulea’i has expressed confidence in the financial state of the airline. The Government is yet to release the annual report of the airline’s performance in the last 12 months, but that did not trouble Fe’esago, as they prepare to become the first airline in the Pacific to use a Boeing 737-Max 9 aircraft.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi has challenged Village Mayors not to be afraid of making hard decision – even if it is against paramount chiefs. Speaking to village leaders recently at the Tooa Salamasina Hall, the P.M. said there were reports of village mayors instigating trouble in villages, and chiefs have been tasked to report non-performing village mayors.

The challenge of keeping Samoa’s electricity running without interruption comes with a cost. This was highlighted by the Electric Power Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Tologata Tile Tuimaleali'ifano, in an interview after the commissioning of a $5.39 million tala 200 Kilowatt Hydro Power plant at Vailoa Palauli last Friday.

Talofa Samoa!
In the first week of last year, I was looking for one of METI ‘champions’: someone, who had been following the whole foods, plant based (WFPB) diet that METI promotes and who had been successful in reversing his diabetes condition, which had been crippling him for years.